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Happy 7 Eleven Day

by Andrew Tuttle
07/11/21
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On July 11, 1993, two young men, with a passion for the Super Big Gulp, sat on a grassy knoll outside a 7-Eleven near Brea, CA across the street from EV Free Fullerton church and munched on a Big Bite hot dog and sipped their favorite beverage from the 44 oz container. The two enjoyed conversation and a break from their jobs, and decided “we should do this next year on July 11.”

Thus 7-11 Day was born.

The two friends celebrated 7-Eleven day every year thereafter even though it was more or less a daily ritual for them. Once the internet and email took hold and made it easier to share information, the two decided, about six years later, to tell 7-Eleven executives in Texas about their annual festivity.  An email was sent to corporate headquarters in Dallas.

The reply was, well, somewhat convoluted. It’s not as if the two were looking for money or any favors. They just really enjoyed their daily Super Big Gulps and thought why not share with the company about this annual “holiday” they invented around 7-Eleven. Don’t companies like positive feedback? That’s what they thought. It was indicated perhaps the two might be mentioned in the company newsletter but nothing else was communicated and the two friends continued living their lives.

To their surprise, a short few years later, on 7-Eleven day no less, the duo walked into 7-Eleven and discovered that the company hijacked their holiday. 7-Eleven day posters were strewn all around celebrating “their” day and offering free slurpees. (Back then it was a small; then it got smaller to almost a taster cup but in 2013, the company changed back to a regular small.) Today the “holiday” is dubbed Free Slurpee Day.

Neither friend held a grudge against this obvious thievery since had either of them been the PR flak who took that fateful email they too would have shared the idea with corporate in order to climb the ladder. However, both men’s hearts, thanks to their Christian faith, were in such a place that credit would have been given where credit was due.

To this day, the two friends, now separated by a state and sometimes a lack of correspondence, continue to celebrate 7-Eleven Day (not Free Slurpee Day) and those close to them know the two as the real founders of 7-Eleven Day. Each year on July 11 a Super Big Gulp is consumed and a Big Bite hot dog is eaten.

The true founders of 7-Eleven Day wish to stay anonymous until the corporate executives decide to acknowledge their contributions to the “holiday.”

To KJ – Happy 20^th anniversary of 7-Eleven Day.

To all of you – Happy 7-Eleven Day!! Enjoy your free Slurpee.